69th Rodeo of the Ozarks Ends With Fireworks

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The 2013 Rodeo of the Ozarks ended Saturday evening (July 6) at Parson’s Stadium. Rodeo board members estimate about 25,000 people visited the rodeo surpassing last year’s total of about 18,000.

The four-day rodeo featured a number of events, but each night started with a crowd favorite Mutton Bustin’.

J.W. Brooks brought his five year-old son Caden to hold on to a sheep as long as he could.

“It’s just hometown good fun,” J.W. Brooks said. “They’re going to remember this for a long time so I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Mutton Bustin’ is for children between the ages of four and six.

Caden Brooks who wore chaps, boots and a cowboy hat described the sport as “you ride a sheep and they go wild.”

The young cowboy came to the Rodeo of the Ozarks prepared.

” My little pony Coco he bucks so I’ve been riding him for a long time,” Caden Brooks said. “So I come to this rodeo to Mutton Bust.”

There was comedy, there were dancers sharing the Mexican culture with folklore music, some of the best in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

Dale Blizzard said he’s been coming to this rodeo since he was five years old.

“It’s the biggest one around, you get to see some of the top Cowboys, see some good stock, makes it exciting,” Blizzard said.

Blizzard said cowboys and cowgirls work hard to get ready for the rodeo.

” You don’t just get on and automatically do that,” Blizzard said. “It takes a lot of hard work and you are generally there, nobody pushes you but yourself so you have to have heart to stay out there by yourself and do it.”

The Rodeo of the Ozarks wouldn’t be complete without tasty food.

“Its my first time at the rodeo but I like the food,” said Lexy Tatera, 20.

Jordan Snoderly, 21, said his turkey leg was juicy.

“I only get these at the fair and I haven’t been at the rodeo in like 12 years but I had to pick one up,” Snoderly said.

Rodeo organizers this year hope to raise the future generations of cowgirls and cowboys.